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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Katiting pa lang': De Lima reacts to ex-DPWH exec's return of P110M cash to gov't

'Katiting pa lang': De Lima reacts to ex-DPWH exec's return of P110M cash to gov't

Published Nov 28, 2025 09:14 pm

At A Glance

  • Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said the eye-popping P110 million in cold cash that was turned over to the Department of Justice (DOJ) by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Henry Alcantara was just a drop in the kickback bucket.
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook)
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook)


Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said the eye-popping P110 million in cold cash that was turned over to the Department of Justice (DOJ) by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Henry Alcantara was just a drop in the kickback bucket.
"Katiting pa lang ito kumpara sa trilyong pisong napunta sa mga kickback at bulsa ng mga nagsabwatan sa mga maanomalyang proyekto (This is just a measly amount compared to the trillions of pesos that went to kickbacks and into the pockets of those who colluded in anomalous projects)," De Lima said on Friday night, Nov. 28.
"We urge other personalities involved in flood control projects controversy to follow suit," added the House deputy minority leader.
Alcantara is a key personality in the flood control projects corruption scandal, which has rocked the Marcos administration to its core.
De Lima, herself a former DOJ secretary, noted that the Filipino public still craves for accountability as far as the controversy is concerned.
"Dapat bilis-bilisan pa ng gobyerno ang pagsasampa ng kaso at pagbawi sa mga nakaw na yaman. Dahil hindi makukuntento ang mga Pilipino sa tingi-tingi lang na pagsasauli ng mga kinulimbat sa kaban ng bayan."
(The government must move faster in filing cases and recovering stolen wealth. Because Filipinos will not be satisfied with piecemeal returns of what was plundered from the nation’s coffers.)
"That is why we in the House Liberal Party (LP) Bloc filed House Resolution (HR) No. 524 to probe the status of recovering ill-gotten or unexplained wealth of those implicated in this biggest corruption scandal in our country—to identify implementation gaps, ensure accountability, and recommend remedial legislative measures to improve the effectiveness of the government’s anti-corruption mechanisms," De Lima said.
"Kasama rin sa dapat pang bilisan ang pagsasabatas ng panukala nating ICAIC Law para sa mas malakas, mas komprehensibo, mas patas at tunay na independent commission para imbestigahan ang mga maanomalyang proyekto ng gobyerno," she added, referring to the proposed Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption.
(Also needing to be expedited is the passage of our proposed ICAIC Law — for a stronger, more comprehensive, fairer, and truly independent commission to investigate anomalous government projects.)
She said that the deliberations on the matter must not be "on-and-off".
De Lima reckoned that beyond the amounts being returned and the stolen wealth to be recovered, there is also a need to monitor where the money will be used. She said the government’s plan must be clear, and the benefits must be substantial for the people.
"Malinaw sa mulat at galit na taumbayan: Kulang na ikulong lang ang mga kurakot. Dapat ibalik ang mga nakaw na yaman! (It is clear to the awakened and outraged public: It is not enough to just jail the corrupt. The stolen wealth must be returned!)" the congresswoman said to hammer her point home.
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